“There is a sense among many in Washington that this funding legislation was the last important thing Congress needed to do prior to November. I strongly disagree and said so today with this vote. The Farm Bill expires at the end of this month, and getting a new one done is a top priority for me and should be a top priority for this Congress. I am pursuing every option available to get a Farm Bill to the floor. I am continuing to work with my colleagues, Republican and Democrat alike, to gather support for the discharge petition to force a vote on the Farm Bill.”

The discharge petition is a procedure to bring a bill to the floor for a vote even if it is not scheduled for a vote. In this Congress, there have been five discharge petitions. The discharge petition for the House Agriculture Committee passed version of the Farm Bill came available for signatures for the first time today. Rep. Noem was the third Representative, and the first Republican to sign the discharge petition.